A white covering over some fields between Nadur and Ghajnsielem at dawn. Picture Mario Muscat - mynews@timesofmalta.comWeathermen are forecasting New Year’s Eve will be the coldest December day in Malta in 26 years.
The Meteorological Office is predicting temperatures to dip to a minimum of 4˚C tomorrow night because of a spell of cold weather heading towards the Mediterranean from Scandinavia and Russia.
There was enough hail on the roads in Xlendi this morning for this young girl to enjoy making a snowman. Picture - Josianne Xerri facebook/times of malta
Msida Valley Road flooded this morning, with a number of stalled cars. Picture Hamody Zedan facebook/times of malta
The Maltese Islands got a taste of what may be in store with a hailstorm overnight as well as heavy rain and thunder. (See pictures above and below)
The last time temperatures went below 4˚C in December was in 1988 when it dropped to 3.7˚C.
On the continent, cold snaps combined with showers usually result in snow. B/times of malta[/attachut a Met Office spokesman brushed off the idea of that happening in Malta.
“The temperature needs to get close to 0˚C for snow, and that is something which has never happened since 1922 when meteorological records started being kept.”
He explained it was next to impossible to see snow in Malta since the island is too far south and surrounded by sea. At 18˚C, the sea is still warm and not predicted to go below 15˚C.
However data produced by Nadur weather station last night shows that the temperature actually did slip below zero for a brief moment at -0.6c. See screen shots below. Second picture shows temperature conditions early in the morning.(courtesy Andrea Muscat)
The unusual view of a section of Lunzjata Valley, Gozo. Photo Joseph Refalo - mynews@timesofmalta.com
Hailstorm over Gozo. Picture taken yesterday at 5.30p.m. by Lawrence Camilleri. mynews@timesofmalta.com
Hailstorm over Gozo. Picture taken yesterday at 5.30p.m. by Lawrence Camilleri. mynews@timesofmalta.com
Hailstorm over Gozo. Picture taken yesterday at 5.30p.m. by Lawrence Camilleri. mynews@timesofmalta.com
Reading from private weather station in Nadur during the night.
A section of Ghajnsielem Square this morning.Photo: Louise Cutajar - facebook/times of malta
Lunzjata Valley, Gozo. Picture Joseph Refalo - mynews@timesofmalta.com
Lunzjata Valley, always one of Gozo's scenic spots, took on an altogether different appearance this morning. Picture Monique Caruana - facebook/times of malta
Hail in Xlendi. Photo Ramon Mercieca facebook/times of malta
Xaghra, Gozo, this morning. Picture Lawrence Camilleri - mynews@timesofmalta.com
Xaghra, Gozo, this morning. Picture Lawrence Camilleri - mynews@timesofmalta.com
Xlendi - Mike Cressey - mynews@timesofmalta.com
'Snowboy' in Zebbug, Gozo. Picture Sarah Xuereb
Photo Petrina Camenzuli
Snowman in Gharb. Picture Jonathan Zarb - mynews@timesofmalta.com
Xlendi this morning. Photo by Mike Cressey - mynews@timesofmalta.com
Xaghra football ground in Gozo.
Msida, mid-morning. Photo Malcolm Cachia facebook/times of malta
Christmas snowboy, Xewkija. Photo by Jennifer Grech - facebook/times of malta
Photo: Malcolm Cachia
Olaf comes to town by Christian Xerri and Sephora Bajada.
Gharb. Photo: Jonathan Agius